Innocent until proven guiltyWith a suspect coming forward Friday in the Nona Dirksmeyer homicide case, it would be reasonable to believe the community is feeling a sense of relief. After all, the mystery of "who killed Nona" has engulfed our tight-knit city ever since her death in December. But as trying as the past few months have been, there's still an emotional and difficult road ahead. First, there are two families who are suffering -- the victim's and the suspect's....

Tragic times in the valleyToday, a family awaits answers about the sudden, violent and tragic death of a loved one. Correction. Make that more than one family. During the past few months, the Arkansas River Valley has experienced its share of horrendous crimes and senseless deaths -- in many instances, young lives were lost way too soon. And it doesn't matter whether someone's death is the result of an illness, accident or at the hand of another; it always hurts those ...

Reading, learning, livingBy Scott Perkins Editor It's no surprise for a newspaper editor to promote literacy. Read, read and read some more. Hey, you could always subscribe to The Courier and we'll deliver it to your door bright and early six days a week. Okay, enough with the sales pitch. Deep in this column is a lesson straight from the heart. If modern trends of families reading less together continue, eventually anyone who makes a living writing books, or for the ...

Behind the times on relief frontHope is no longer known as one of Arkansas' towns claiming to be associated with President William Jefferson Clinton, it has become a graveyard for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Hope's airport which is dominated by now infamous FEMA trailers also symbolizes our government's complete incompetence in reacting to disastrous hurricanes along our Gulf Coast. According to an Associated Press report, the Hope City Council will consider an ...

Spring is the time for yards to blossomFailure to pick up trash in the yard has been an issue as of late throughout the Arkansas River Valley. Although there may be some understandable circumstances for not picking up trash immediately, we commend our law enforcement officials who are doing something to keep the neighborhoods neat and respectable. We urge those who have let littering become a problem to follow in the footsteps of the cities taking action. Littering is a very seriou...

President should be given power of line-item vetoFriday, March 10 The Daily News, Longview, Washington, on veto authority: President Bush asked Congress to give him line-item veto authority to help control spending. The request deserves serious consideration. This big-spending Congress certainly could use the help, and every member knows it. Virtually every president since the Civil War has sought the authority to veto individual spending items in bills, rather than having to veto the bill i...

The Ann Arbor (Mich.) News, on Sunshine Week:March 14 On Sunshine Week, those hoping for access to information about public employees entrusted to care for children and the elderly may find government's window shades drawn. News media organizations and others across the country have declared this week a time to underscore the need for 'sunshine laws,' an informal term describing the framework of public information and open meetings rules that gives citizens an opportunity to evaluate gov...

Strategies at play with Bush's proposal for IndiaMarch 7 Toronto Star, on President Bush's India deal: United States President George Bush has not handed India "The Bomb" by agreeing to sell that country nuclear technology. That's because India has had atomic weapons for decades. But the new pact between Washington and New Delhi undermines 35 years of nuclear arms control, and that stark reality poses a real risk to global security. By treating India as an acceptable nuclear partner, Bush ha...

Today's culture lacks yesterday's simplicityWhat's your first memory? Whether it be of your mom or dad or maybe fishing with grandpa, the fact of the matter is, memory is impossible without words. Whatever it is, your first memory manifested when your vocabulary was extensive enough to describe the experience. Learning to read is the root of living, cherishing memories and becoming able to think and imagine. However, children from generations ago benefited from a simpler way of life and...

As others see itMarch 3 The Post and Courier, Charleston, S.C., on military's role in disasters: Surely by now the depth of the failure of the federal response to Hurricane Katrina must seem to have no end. While accountability for past mistakes is critical, it would truly be unforgivable if the recommendations viewed as the most essential to preventing a repeat of the deadly Katrina fiasco haven't been carried out before this hurricane season begins. ... Non...

There's no exc There's no excuse for tent cities months after KatrinaSix months after Hurricane Katrina made landfall, thousands of Gulf Coast residents are still living in tents. Ironically, an estimated 10,000 fully furnished, manufactured homes -- purchased by FEMA and paid for by taxpayers -- are gathering dust less than 450 miles (seven hours) away from New Orleans. The homes, intended to provide housing for hurricane victims, have been parked in a cow pasture near Hope. Why, after six months, haven't the ...

A new era beginsVarious changes are accepted with open arms by some while others avoid them at all costs. Since you're reading this column, you've seen the most recent change in Your Messenger for The Arkansas River Valley. We knew months ago the launch of the new Courier would be a challenge which would require commitment to our mission statement, dedication to excellence and open ears. Our readers deserve a ton of credit for communicating their wishes and s...

Courier to take on a new lookWe've changed many things about The Courier in the past year or so, but this next one will certainly not go unnoticed. The Courier newsroom has been counting down the days to March 10 for quite sometime now. It's our little version of March Madness. This Friday will be the first time we see our redesigned product roll off the press. We've put our heads together in hopes of launching a product that our readers will enjoy and find extremely user...

From coal to port safetyFeb. 26 Appalachian News-Express, Pikeville, Ky., on coal companies: It looks like federal officials are finally cracking down on coal companies with unpaid fines, and that's a good thing. Our only concern is that so far, it's not much of a crackdown. This week, the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration filed a lawsuit against two Pike County mining operations owned by a Virgie man. Federal officials say they want to not only force the...

Welcome home, and thank youThough it was a little chilly Saturday morning during the second "A Salute to Freedom" event in downtown Russellville, the heartfelt comments expressed by civilians -- and soldiers -- were truly warming to the soul. On one hand, the event served as a welcome-home celebration for soldiers of the 392nd Chemical Company, Detachment Four, 90th Regional Readiness Command. The troops were honored for their courage, commitment to service and devotion...

State to look at athletic spendingThe state Legislature will closely scrutinize public school athletic spending before providing more money for academics, the chairman of the Senate Education Committee said this week. Athletic programs cost at least $85.9 million last year -- amounting to 2.5 percent of school districts' total expenses of $3.37 billion in 2004-05 -- according to a report issued by the Department of Education. Senate leader Jim Argue, D-Little, chairman of the ...

Differences should be worked outThe Dardanelle Boys and Girls Club has been making the news headlines lately all because two sides disagree about some recent decisions. Several parents are upset Edward Murphy was relieved of his duties as the club's facilities director because he was good to their children. At the same time, administrators of the club are looking to take a new direction for the betterment of the children by cleaning the place up and making sure the kids have...

Another search beginsMonday's announcement of the resignation of Arkansas Tech University head men's basketball coach Rick McCormick is another example of how fluid the coaching profession can be. Any coach on any collegiate level across the country knows one or a few seasons of success can result in other colleges wanting you to come to their school. This is also the time of year when coaches must decide while they attempted to do their best, the result wasn't wh...

Fire threat persists in River ValleyFirefighters in Arkansas fought Tuesday to contain wildfires as the threat of more blazes in the state and Arkansas River Valley remain high, due to unseasonably warm temperatures, strong winds and dry conditions. According to the Arkansas Forestry Commission, nearly 60 fires burned more than 1,630 acres across the state. Firefighters contained 53 of them, a spokeswoman told The Associated Press in Little Rock, but three were still burning Tue...

How 'bout them Lady Cyclones?Who says girls can't play sports? Around here, they do more than just play -- they win. Two different Lady Cyclone teams left their marks on Arkansas high school sporting history this year with two state titles. Trailing before the last event, the Russellville Lady Cyclone track team came from behind Saturday at the Tyson Center on the University of Arkansas campus to claim the Class AAAAA state championship indoor track title. The Lady Cyclon...